Chennai: On Monday the Chennai Mahila Court sentenced A Gnanasekaran to life imprisonment for the rape of a 19-year-old student at Anna University. He will serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars, following his conviction on all 11 charges related to the incident.

Mahila Court Judge M Rajalakshmi delivered the sentence just four days after pronouncing Gnanasekaran guilty. The charges span several offences, including rape, criminal trespass, abduction, wrongful restraint, and digital violations under the Information Technology Act. The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act was also invoked.

According to the survivor’s complaint, filed at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station on 24 December 2024, Gnanasekaran had threatened her and her male friend on campus, isolated her, and then raped her. Prosecutors revealed he also recorded the act on his mobile phone.

After the survivor’s identity was leaked in the media on 26 December, the Madras High Court intervened and set up an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) to oversee the case. The SIT submitted a comprehensive 100-page chargesheet by 24 February. The matter was transferred to the Mahila Court on 7 March.

Charges against Gnanasekaran were framed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and IT laws, including Section 64(1) for rape, Section 66 of the IT Act for digital violations, and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act.

This landmark verdict follows another high-profile conviction in the Pollachi sexual assault case in May and further intensifies the spotlight on women's safety in Tamil Nadu. The swift judicial process and strong sentencing in this case have been welcomed by many, though opposition leaders continue to demand answers on the broader network allegedly involved and call for full accountability.